Pirate Progressives
European
monarchs inaccurately portrayed acts of violence committed by pirates
disproportionate to the violence of 18th century Europe during the
Golden age of Piracy, thus creating a historical narrative that omitted the
unprecedented and enlightened contributions of pirates. Painting a barbaric
image of pirates benefitted the economic and political interest of governments
as a way to distract from their own heinous acts. These governments and
monarchies commissioned privateers to steal from opposing countries but
denounce the pirates when they received political backlash. Pirates are
vilified for using violence and torture though all governments, religious
bodies, and citizens of the Golden Age of Piracy used equally cruel and
gruesome methods. The egalitarian pirate code of conduct, cooperation among
fleets, and contribution to the New World depict pirates as liberal patriots of
a society much ahead of its time.
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